Costco: Not Right for Yorktown and Not a Done Deal

Why add unfair competition to Yorktown’s merchants in this economic downturn?  Why create a traffic nightmare on 202 that would keep Yorktown residents and ambulances from getting to Hudson Valley Hospital Center as quickly as possible?  Why damage the environment by cutting down trees and creating tainted water run-off from a 151,000 square foot building and paved parking for 600 cars – run-off that would affect the neighboring trout streams and the Croton Watershed?  Why change the look and feel of historical Yorktown? 

Yorktown has rolling hills, incredible forests, lakes, streams, creeks, footpaths, farms and a great mix of businesses run by our neighbors.  We live in a special place. This is why people move here…for some quiet…for some nature…for the trees…for community…not so that it could slowly morph into Yonkers’ Central Avenue or Highway 17 in New Jersey.

Allowing Costco into our home is the first step toward this other, very different future.  We don’t need it. Don’t want it. Costco doesn’t belong here. You can do something about it. But you have to act fast. There is only a small window of time that the Planning Board is open to hearing from the public.

The developers and politicians who favor the project have worked hard to make it seem like the project is a “done deal.” It is not. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (“DEIS”) has been accepted by the Planning Board, but you have a say. Your chance is now. Call or write the Yorktown Supervisor, Council members and the Planning Board to let them know how you feel about this project. They have the power to stop it. (See yorktownny.org for all contact information.)

The public is invited to the Planning Board meeting on Monday, Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Nutrition Center Room at the Yorktown Community & Cultural Center, 1974 Commerce Street. Please join us to voice your opinion. Your input is vital to Yorktown’s future.

For further information, please visit: www.nocostco.com